St. Vincent de Paul

“No Work Of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”

WHO ARE WE?

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a worldwide lay Catholic organization founded in France in 1833. The society was founded by a group of Catholic lay persons under the leadership of a 21 year old man named Frederick Ozanam, a student at the University of Paris, to help the poor. Since then, he has been beatified by the Vatican with the title of “blessed”. The society was named after St. Vincent de Paul who was known for helping the poor in the 1600’s. The purpose today , as in 1833, is to help the poor.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?

St. Mary’s Conference of St. Vincent de Paul is made up of 28 lay men and women who join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person services to those who are in need of food, housing and financial assistance. We help the needy, the poor and the homeless not only within the geographical boundaries of St. Mary’s Parish but also in partnership with the parishes in the greater New Bedford area.

WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE NEEDY, POOR AND THE HOMELESS?

Do home visits to determine their specific needs.

Provide them with food vouchers to local food markets.

Direct them to area food pantries. Such has the Solanus Casey Food Pantry in New Bedford which is staffed by lay volunteers of St. Mary’s Conference and other St. Vincent de Paul Conference in the greater New Bedford area.

Pay utility and phone bills for those who have received “shut off” notices for overdue payments.

Make payments to landlords who want to evict tenants who are behind in their rent.

Repair their cars, give them gas vouchers, pay their car insurance, excise taxes and traffic tickets to allow them the opportunity to look for employment, to travel to the food pantries and to doctor’s visits.

Pay camp fees to Cathedral Camp to give their children the opportunity to attend summer camp.

Visit the home-bound parishioners at Thanksgiving. Christmas and Easter with food vouchers, flowers and reading material.

WHEN AND WHERE DO WE MEET?

Once every month on the 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in one of the classrooms in the parish center.